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Mardi Gras 2008 was early but still great fun for all!

Mardi Gras Day, 2008, was February 5...the earliest it's been in a very long time and the earliest it will be for quite a while (thank goodness!). Since the nightly parades begin two weeks prior to Fat Tuesday, the parades this year began in mid-January...which can be quite cold. However, the weather didn't stop parade revelers from having a fabulous time.

Kevin Costner thrilled the massive crowds that lined the streets of Mid-City for the Krewe of Endymion. 2008 was the first year this extremely popular parade returned to their traditional route (since Hurricane Katrina). The pre-parade party on Orleans Avenue was a festival by itself...but then the parade started rolling at City Park & Orleans which brought tears to the eyes of everyone as this was yet another sign that New Orleans is recovering and life is back to normal.

Based on the crowds that lined St. Charles Avenue Mardi Gras Day and the traditional Mardi Gras madness in the French Quarter, the early arrival of Mardi Gras didn't affect the spirit of Carnival that is unique to New Orleans!